Of all the many plumbing problems that can plague your home, slab leaks are some of the worst. There are a couple different reasons for this, including their location, how difficult they are to detect, and how much damage they can do in a short amount of time. If you’re not familiar with the dangers of slab leaks, read on for the sake of your plumbing system.
Most homes, probably including yours, sit on a concrete foundation called a “slab.” This slab is meant to stabilize the home and prevent it from sinking, among other things. Under the slab run a number of plumbing pipes, most notably your water and sewer lines. When one of these pipes springs a leak, it is called a “slab leak.”
As mentioned above, slab leaks are an issue for a few different reasons. First, they are very difficult to detect before they do a fair bit of damage. As a slab leak continues, water will filter up through the slab and into the home, eventually coming up through the floor and causing widespread water damage. That is often the first sign that people notice that they may have a leak. The only real way to detect a slab leak before it starts ruining your floors is to watch your water meter, or keep a sharp eye on your water bill, which few homeowners feel the need to do on a regular basis.
Once a slab leak is identified, the problem is getting to it to fix it. In the old days, the only way to fix a slab leak was to crack the slab to get to the pipes. Thankfully, there are less invasive ways to do it now if you have the right equipment.
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